Step 1: Get Inspired
Music makes us feel deeply. Very often we turn to music in times of sorrow or joy to help us work through those moments of intense emotion. Music can also tell a story. It is this intersection that we want to explore in this project. You need to find a song that inspires emotions AND story. Check out this song. Give it a chance and listen all the way through. Close your eyes. Relax.
1. What emotions come up for you? Try to describe what you feel.
Try this one.
2. Does this one touch you more or less than the last one? Why?
How about this one?
3. These songs are all written to pull at our deepest heartstrings- but which one is most inspiring for you? If you HAD to choose, which one could you use to create a character? Why?
You need a song that makes you want to tell a story. Theses examples are here to help you figure out what really touches you in music.
Start your own search- find 3 songs that really touch you. They can be happy, sad, angry, old, new etc.
Once you've found them- start a google doc- title it with your name and the Unit title Monologued.
Share with [email protected] and share them with me.
1. What emotions come up for you? Try to describe what you feel.
Try this one.
2. Does this one touch you more or less than the last one? Why?
How about this one?
3. These songs are all written to pull at our deepest heartstrings- but which one is most inspiring for you? If you HAD to choose, which one could you use to create a character? Why?
You need a song that makes you want to tell a story. Theses examples are here to help you figure out what really touches you in music.
Start your own search- find 3 songs that really touch you. They can be happy, sad, angry, old, new etc.
Once you've found them- start a google doc- title it with your name and the Unit title Monologued.
Share with [email protected] and share them with me.
Step 2: Analyze those lyrics
These are the lyrics from the first song you listened to. This song is most inspiring to me- so I'm going to explore the lyrics to see if there is something in them that can give me some clues for the monologue/story I want to tell.
Lacrimosa
Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.
Obviously I want to use the English translation... these are the lyrics and anything in red are my notes.
That day of tears and mourning, (Funeral)
when from the ashes (your deathbed) shall arise,
all humanity to be judged. (Is this the end of the world? Or the end of a love affair? With death comes judgement for your life)
Spare us by your mercy, Lord,
gentle (The idea of god being gentle is so beautiful- this makes me heart ache) Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen. (This song is about faith- perhaps it's about hope, too?)
Next- I want you to listen to the song again. This time, analyze the music alone. My notes about Lacrimosa are in blue.
The strings in this song pull at my gut- they feel like the swoop that happens when a roller coaster drops.
It is impossible to get away from God in this song, the choir feels like the universal judgement. They are all powerful.
The smaller, softer part of the song makes me think of the true mourning that happens in a heart, maybe months after the initial lost.
This music feels bigger than me- it was written by genius and it feels like you could get lost in it.
Please do this work for yourself in your google doc that you shared with me.
Lacrimosa
Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.
Obviously I want to use the English translation... these are the lyrics and anything in red are my notes.
That day of tears and mourning, (Funeral)
when from the ashes (your deathbed) shall arise,
all humanity to be judged. (Is this the end of the world? Or the end of a love affair? With death comes judgement for your life)
Spare us by your mercy, Lord,
gentle (The idea of god being gentle is so beautiful- this makes me heart ache) Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen. (This song is about faith- perhaps it's about hope, too?)
Next- I want you to listen to the song again. This time, analyze the music alone. My notes about Lacrimosa are in blue.
The strings in this song pull at my gut- they feel like the swoop that happens when a roller coaster drops.
It is impossible to get away from God in this song, the choir feels like the universal judgement. They are all powerful.
The smaller, softer part of the song makes me think of the true mourning that happens in a heart, maybe months after the initial lost.
This music feels bigger than me- it was written by genius and it feels like you could get lost in it.
Please do this work for yourself in your google doc that you shared with me.
Step 3: Start to generate story/character
STEP OPTIONS:
Everyone please do...
Character Questionnaire
Please copy and paste your answers into the google doc that is shared with me.
THEN CHOOSE TO DO 1 of the following.
<---Character Collage
Hot Seating (more than 1 person is needed)
Role on the Wall
Journal Entry in Character
Everyone please do...
Character Questionnaire
Please copy and paste your answers into the google doc that is shared with me.
THEN CHOOSE TO DO 1 of the following.
<---Character Collage
Hot Seating (more than 1 person is needed)
Role on the Wall
Journal Entry in Character
Step 4: Write the monologue
Check out this website for some tips about crafting a monologue- pay close attention to #1 and #2!
I know this website talks about auditions- but we are writing monologues for performance that are inspired by your character creation and the song you've chosen. Here is my monologue that I wrote inspired by Lacrimosa.
I know this website talks about auditions- but we are writing monologues for performance that are inspired by your character creation and the song you've chosen. Here is my monologue that I wrote inspired by Lacrimosa.